what is thought to be a basic subatomic particle and proof is provided by the big bang machine. these are massive 17 or 18-mile-long particle accelerators built in geneva, switzerland and illinois. and so what is the god particle and what is confirmation of the existence after decades of searching actually mean? joining me is eric pits from the franklin institute, chief astronomer, and derrick, this is going to grab a lot of people's attention and why is it called the god particle, and what is it? >> well, the god particle is known as a higgs bosign and it is by the standard methods of physics not discovered yet. this is crucial, because it is the one particle that scientists will help us to understand basic things about the universe as you said, be one of the most basic ones is that we don't understand why particles have mass, so it is hoped that by discovering this particle we might be able to figure that out as well as figure out things about the early history of the universe, et cetera, et cetera. >> and derrick, tell us more ant the big bang machines, and these are the mach